TODAY: Hall and Castillo cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A, the Phillies announced.
AUGUST 9: The Phillies announced a series of roster moves today. Outfielder Austin Hays has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to August 8, with a left hamstring strain. Left-hander Kolby Allard was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To take those two roster spots, the club selected outfielder Cal Stevenson and right-hander Max Lazar. To open 40-man spots for those two, first baseman Darick Hall and righty Max Castillo have been designated for assignment.
Hays left Wednesday’s game with left hamstring tightness, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com on X. It’s unclear how long he is expected to be out of action, but it seems the Phils will have to progress for at least a week without their recent outfield upgrade. Acquired from the Orioles prior to the deadline, Hays hit .263/.282/.395 and stole two bases in his first ten games with Philadelphia but will now sit on the shelf for a while.
The club still has Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas and Weston Wilson in the outfield mix but will bolster that group with Stevenson. Now 27, he was claimed off waivers from the Giants in May of last year but then was outrighted off the Phillies’ roster the following month.
He’s spent all of this year putting up great numbers at the Triple-A level. In 91 games for the IronPigs, he’s hit seven home runs and drawn walks at a massive 16.4% clip while limiting his strikeouts to a 16.7% strikeout rate. His .307/.420/.488 batting line translates to a 138 wRC+ and he’s also stolen 27 bases while lining up at all three outfield spots.
Stevenson has put up strong numbers in the minors before but struggled in limited major league looks. He has 29 big league games under his belt at this point, with the Giants and Athletics, but he hit just .145/.259/.188 in those contests. If things click this time around, he still has one option remaining and he won’t be able to get to one year of service time this season, meaning he could be retained well into the future at minimal cost.
But getting Stevenson onto the roster seems to have cost Hall his spot. He has done some exciting stuff at the plate in the past but is not having his best year. He’s spent the entire season in Triple-A and does have 12 home runs, but his .248/.324/.402 line translates to an 86 wRC+ in the strong offensive environment of the International League this year.
Hall is in his final option year and therefore will be out of options in 2025. Even before this year’s struggles, he didn’t have a path to playing time in Philadelphia with Bryce Harper at first base and Kyle Schwarber in the designated hitter slot. With less roster flexibility next year, he was going to have a hard time hanging onto his roster spot going forward, so the Phils have nudged him off today.
With the trade deadline now passed, they will have no choice but to put him on waivers in the coming days. Clubs may be interested based on his past performance. From 2021 to 2023, he hit 60 home runs in 297 minor league games, walked at an 11.1% clip and had a 21.1% strikeout rate. His combined .261/.351/.486 batting line translated to a 117 wRC+. He can be kept on optional assignment for the rest of this year but will be out of options next year and has no defensive versatility as a first base/DH only player.
The club also made a switch on the pitching side, giving Lazar his first major league call. Drafted by the Brewers back in 2017, he climbed as high as Double-A but didn’t get the major league call by the end of 2023 and qualified for minor league free agency.
The Phillies signed him to a minor league deal in the offseason and have been watching him post great results. In 40 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, he has a 1.79 earned run average, 33.8% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate. Those impressive numbers get him up to the Philly bullpen and he’ll be making his major league debut as soon as he gets into a game.
Castillo, 25, was claimed off waivers from the Red Sox in February. Like Hall, he is in his final option year and may been running out of time. Claimed off waivers from the Red Sox in February, he has been providing the Phils with some starting depth but the results haven’t been there this year. In 52 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, he has a 7.62 ERA, 16.4% strikeout rate and 10.4% walk rate.
The Phils will have to put him on waivers in a few days. As recently as last year, he seemed like a capable up-and-down arm, as he posted a 4.43 ERA in the majors with the Royals and a 4.58 ERA at the Triple-A level, but it’s obviously been a different story this year. Between Castillo and Hall, neither has a previous career outright nor three years of big league service time. If either of them clear waivers, they would stick with the Phils as non-roster depth.
LAZARS!
Pretty excited about Max “Laser”.
I hope the home scoreboard gives him the 90s school picture with the laser background.
I was hoping someone would pick up on my Dr. Evil “reference”.
Nope, I didn’t pick up on it. Could you explain it to me as if I was five? Is Dr. Evil supposed to be Elon Musk?
No, nothing to do with Elon Musk.
google.com/gasearch?q=dr%20evil%20laser%20gif&…
Yeah I know I was trying to be sarcastic but it didn’t come out right.
Will no Hays lead to an offensive renaissance?
Phils take a Hall pass
Max Castillo is not a thin man.
Max in, Max out…
They should have traded for Mike Trout. Are a fair amount of what was owed given them Simon Muzziotti. I’m sure Trouts meniscus would’ve healed
Really, another conspiracy theorist? I think Trout deserves better! He could have been one of the best to ever play the game. Unfortunately, he has been besieged with injuries the last few years! I hope he is able to overcome the injuries and return healthy to enjoy the last few years of his career!
Conspiracy theorist I don’t think so. All of you fan boys would be drooling over the fact Mike Trout would play Centerfield Sunday afternoon and be sitting in his seats Sunday night watching the eagles play. You all would be saying he’s our guy what a Philly guy. Maybe he’ll meet us at Pats for a cheesesteak and then get a Philadelphia Ice after. I’m all for Trout roaming Center at CBP but a conspiracy theorist I don’t think so.
Trout prefers to stay with the Angels at the moment. Sorry.
No one from Philly eats at Pat’s, they’re tourist cheesesteaks.
Trout is owed a ton of money and is always injured. No thanks.
Darick Hall would be a good pickup for the Pirates.He has had some big years in the upper minors but they would need to give him a chance at first base for an extended period.
I think that some team will claim him before the Pirates.He did well for the Phillies a couple of years ago.These guys are human and I think that Harper moving to first base not only ended Rhys Hopkins’ Phillies career but it also stymied Hall’s.
Rhys had one big moment albeit after an 0-20 and that bat slam heard to Delco. Hall was a nice fill in but Bohm whether you want to admit or not is the backup 1b
Hoskins did in his own Phil’s career.Not swinging the bat with RISP and not being able to catch a ball
Kingery?
These moves were merited in my opinion. Surprised a team hasn’t claimed Darrick Hall though. Understand he’s a bat 1st player that offers nothing in the field or on the bases – but Phillies fans have seen the power display and work ethic. Scratched/clawed his way (as a no-name prospect) to the majors and devotes a lot of time to watching film and working in the cage. There’s a lack of high quality 1B in MLB (compared to the 80’s & 90’s at least), someone should give him a shot.
With regards to Mike Trout – truly believe he played his last game as an Angel. But stubborn Arte Moreno will not trade Trout AND eat a large portion of the salary. He just won’t. So the margin realistically reduces down to 5 teams: The Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and maybe the Giants. They are the only teams that could, or would even consider to absorb a contract that large. If I know the Angels, they will want at least a couple of decent prospects to save face and look like they got something in return. And in lieu of eating big chunk of Trout’s salary, could see the acquiring team sending back a high paid player or two. That way it was also make it appear as if the Angels aren’t going into a complete rebuild. The Phillies have a good working relationship with the Anaheim Angels, and Mike Trout would relish the opportunity to play on the East Coast for a World Series contender.
Here’s my Trout trade proposal over the winter:
Phillies get:
Mike Trout RF (37mil)
Reid Detmers SP (1mil)
Angels get:
Nick Castellanos RF (20mil)
Taijuan Walker SP (18mil)
Mick Abel RHP (#5)
Christian McGowan RHP (#14)
Carlos de la Cruz 1B/LF (#13)
Jose Rodriguez SS (#28)
The Trout salary for 2025 offsets, which will keep the budgets of both clubs in tact, without hamstringing either.
In 2026, Kyle Schwarber will be off the books, and probably will not be resigned. The Phillies have to keep the DH open for guys like Harper who are signed long into their 30’s, and now Trout (in this hypothetical). This balancing act would also keep the Phillies below the 3rd luxury tax tier, still allowing them to make modest additions to the bullpen over the next two winters. The Angels for their part, received a fringe top 100 MLB prospect in Abel, plus another AAA arm. A 6’7” hitter that’s harnessing his raw skills and natural power, plus two solid veterans in Castellanos & Walker. Castellanos would hit cleanup behind Nolan Schanuel, and Taijuan would slot in behind Tyler Anderson in the rotation.
Makes sense for both teams, for Mike Trout, and for Major League Baseball and all of MLB’s fans!
Nobody wants Trout and give up other players that might actually play in 50 games a year. Please put down the bottle , spoon , pipe , needle or what ever your indulgence is , Trout’s going no where
You did a lot of work to come up with this deal! It works on paper but only if Trout is Healthy! It would be one heck of a physical to pass to approve that one. He may be the kind of guy who is worn out physically from ever being a Star again. Kind of Like Yelich with the Brewers!
Lol. Trout can’t stay off the DL, and the Angels have no interest in high priced veterans. He isn’t worth any of the top prospects.
The Angels have already fleeced the Phillies 3 times, how many more times do you want?
They obviously knew Marsh can’t hit left handed pitching, and were more than happy to give him up. They got a solid starting catcher for the next 10 years for a platoon outfielder.
They got a free outfielder in Moniak from the Phillies. He might just be a spare part and not a star by any means, but what do the Phillies have to show for that trade? A rental Syndergaard who didn’t magically lead to a World Series win, and just walked away after the season.
Traded 2 very good young pitching prospects for another rental, who until this year has only been mediocre his whole career. Like Syndergaard, he guarantees absolutely nothing as far as a WS victory, let alone even getting there in the first place. Chances are he will just walk away at the end of the year for some ridiculous overpaying contract from some team who just looks at 2024 performance and ignores the mediocre years. The 2 prospects they traded may just fizzle out in time – that does happen – but then again this could also be the Ferguson Jenkins trade all over again. Only time will tell.
Speaking of the bullpen, here’s a slick idea for the Phillies FO – hit the Guardians up in November about Emmanuel Clase, before they even have an opportunity to discuss him with other clubs. Clase salary is set to double for 2025 and up again in 2026. The cash strapped Guardians’ worst contract is Myles Straw, who will make about 7 million in 2025 & 2026. He was DFA’s and outrighted to AAA, where’s he’s sported a .200 or so BA this summer. What if DD offers to take Myles Straw and an expensive Emmanuel Clase. Straw can’t hit a lick, but his CF defense is still elite.
Here’s my Guardians trade proposal –
Phillies get:
Emmanuel Clase CL
Myles Straw CF
Guardians get:
Johan Rojas CF
Yunel Marte RHP
Michael Mercado RHP (#30)
Griff McGarry RHP (#11)
Matt Osterberg LHP (#40)
Jordan Viars 1B/OF (#37)
This trade deadline showed that most teams when they trade a big league player, want 2-3 prospects/close to MLB ready players in return for them. So I think these 6 for 2 trades make sense financially and structurally for the Phillies, Angels & Guardians.
Thank God you aren’t a GM
The guardians can get Rojas for free
And the Phils are reportedly considering Yunel Marte as the next candidate to drop from the 40-man. Too often, these “throw together a bunch of names” proposals just don’t work in a real world sense.
Phillies going to call up Sean o Sullivan?
I still think the phillies will play their best ball in August & September. Then go into the playoffs on a good streak.
I think their best ball was well before the All Star break.
I don’t know what happened. I still think they will turn it around & win the east.
They better win the East. It seems like nobody wants it now. I guess they are all on long road trips late in the season is taking a toll.
Im sure they will once they get back on a roll hitting the baseball , getting back to the fundamentals
They still beat the Dodgers. As long as they do that in the playoffs everyone will be happy.
They are gonna beat everyone
Yes probably not but hope springs eternal.
Will have to play teams outside the eastern time zone to make it past the second round of the playoffs
It’s August now and the stink
Hall had his 15 minutes of fame and he’s not an MLB player. He’s up there with the flash in the pan Tommy Joseph and Darin Ruf guys. Nice stories at the time but nothing long term. The mystery to me is Kody Clemens. Why not bring him back up? He contributed and produced when given the opportunity.
Seriously?? Clemons ranks right there with Hall, Joseph, and Ruf
Should have made a real move at the deadline smh.
They made moves at the deadline Got rid of two crumbs in the bullpen. If they only got the entree out of there Alvarado then they would be better off then handing this guy an important role at any time in the season
Hope Ranger comes back strong.
Instead of throwing up in the first 6 weeks of the season, they waited until the end of June to throw up. This time they’re fortunate that the Braves are decimated and the Mets come in and out of a coma.
What kind of Twinkies is Schwarber eating? How does he go from a .199 BA in 2023 to a .260 BA this year? His WAR will be around 4.0 and his highest ever. What is he doing differently? And you can teach an old dog new tricks??
Per FG, he’s got a .316 BABIP vs. a career .266. His linedrive rate has ticked up and flyball down. Simply put, he’s altered his swing path to not try to every ball for homeruns. The higher average for him is sustainable bc he had a similar batted ball profile in ’22. Schwarber is a very good hitter.
*’21
Better pitch selection, hitting for line drives rather than the longball, to a degree getting a benefit of seeing better pitcher thanks to batting in front of Turner, Harper, and Bohm.